23 Brussendar 835

The next day of the contest, you entered the arena to face a white dragon, constructed to be reminiscent of Vorugal, the Frigid Doom. As an added twist, you’ll face the other champions from the day before in a last man standing free for all while facing the dragon as well. These champions are none other than The Wandering Flames.

Before the arena, Ayo snuck up and asked to speak with Della. Hidden and anxious, Ayo asked if the party was still working with the Benedict Guissar. His investigations are apparently at odds with the research that the Flames’ employer, Aloysia Telfan and has ignited an intense rivalry. She sent the flames here to look for you and gave them orders to eliminate you, if they could. Ayo warned that you should be afraid of them before disappearing back into the crowd.

In the arena, Ayo’s warning appeared to be correct, as, armed with Ruidium-infused weapons, the Flames displayed a terrifying amount of damage that focused on you more than the dragon. Despite your attempts to stop the two antagonists of their group, Irvan and Galsariad, the Ruidium in their armor gave them unforeseen skills, and Galsariad was raised and puppeted to cast a spell even after you knocked him unconscious. Della sought out and then found Aloysia Telfan in the crowd thanks to a use of Psychic Lance. Aloysia had markings of Ruidium posioning on her arms and crown of her head and fled the stands rather than attack.

That puppeting move was enough to have Irvan focus and then kill Della. While Della was down, Irvan asked Ayo for “the key” which she refused to give him but then, after Della’s death, Irvan began to pull her Netherdeep energy out of her lifeless form before Scrum and Stone were able to bring him down. Stone attempted to get Cassie into the fight by pushing at the barrier between their minds, but Cassie resisted.

The battle ended with Ayo killing the dragon and then letting Scrum and Stone knock her unconscious, while Maggie walked away and Dermot pretended to go unconscious, all of them having abandoned their armor. The arena emptied with much less energy than before, as everyone seemed to understand that something different happened this year. All but Della remained in the arena with Dermot for a moment and asked what happened after gathering up the Flames’ weapons. He explained that they were sent here by Aloysia and told to stop you from going into the Ravine, killing you, if they could, or there would be consequences. They assumed that they would be fired, and Maggie, Ayo and Dermot weren’t going to kill you, but Irvan and Galasariad insisted they had to to keep Aloysia happy. Galsariad, in particular, has had some kind of bond with Aloysia and works with her privately quite often but Dermot didn’t want any of this and just wants to leave.

In the medical tent, Della is revived after Galsariad and Irvan have already left and Ayo is being healed. Ayo makes eye contact but leaves before saying anything, forcing Della to chase after her. She apologized and said she didn’t want any of this. The stress of adventuring on this level seems to be too much for her. She said they only came to try and convince Irvan and Galsariad to not hurt you, but they’ve changed, ever since they started on the dig. They’re done, they’re leaving; she can’t do this any more.

Your party reunites on the main street of Xarzith Kitril, watching the broken remains of the Wandering Flames disappear into the crowd and out of the city.